Eutelsat Communications' Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of 8 November 2011

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Nov 08, 2011, 12:41 ET

PARIS, November 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Fiscal 2010-2011 accounts approved
All resolutions approved
Distribution of 0.90 euro per share, up 18.4% on distribution for 2009-2010
Appointment to the Board of Jean-Paul Brillaud and Jean-Martin Folz
Board of Directors appoints Jean-Martin Folz as non-executive Chairman of the Board
Board of Directors appoints Giuliano Berretta as Honorary Chairman

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Annual General Meeting of Shareholders of Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL) was held in Paris on 8 November under the chairmanship of Giuliano Berretta, Chairman of the Board. The accounts for fiscal 2010-2011 were approved, as well as the Company's Articles of Association and all resolutions put to the vote.

The Annual General Meeting of Shareholders also approved the proposal to distribute 0.90 euro per share, an increase of 18.4% over the previous year. This distribution, which represents a pay-out ratio of 58%, will be paid on November 22, 2011.

Board appointments

Shareholders renewed the mandates of the Fonds Stratégique d'Investissement (represented by Thomas Devedjian), Abertis Telecom (represented by Marta Casas Caba) and Bertrand Mabille as Board members for six-year terms ending at the end of the Ordinary General Meeting to be held to examine the accounts for the financial year ending 30 June 2017. Shareholders appointed Abertis Infraestructuras (represented by Francisco Reynes Massanet), Tradia Telecom (represented by Tobias Martínez Gimeno) and Retevision I (represented by Andrea Luminari) as Board members for six-year terms.

Shareholders also approved the appointment of Jean-Paul Brillaud and Jean-Martin Folz as Board members for six-year terms.

The Board of Directors that met after the General Assembly approved the appointment of Jean-Martin Folz as non-executive Chairman of the Board. The Board also appointed Giuliano Berretta as Honorary Chairman.

Michel de Rosen, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "With the excellent results achieved in the 2010-2011 financial year, Eutelsat delivered another year of growth, and a record one for our company. For the second consecutive year we have achieved double-digit growth in revenues, with EBITDA up by 11.9%. To maintain our leadershipin markets with ongoing potential for expansion we are investing the equivalent of over 40% of revenues in renewing and expanding in-orbit resources, and plan annual average capital expenditure of550 million euros to June 2014. These investments do not curtail our capacity to share profits with shareholders. Our objective is to continue to increase dividends each year, with a payout ratio between 50% and 75%.

"With Jean-Martin Folz now appointed as our Group's new Chairman, Eutelsat's trajectory of growth is well-placed to continue. Jean-Martin succeeds Giuliano Berretta whose outstanding contribution forms an intrinsic part of Eutelsat's development. We are proud to welcome Giuliano as our Honorary Chairman."

Financial calendar for 2011-2012

February 16, 2012: earnings for the first half ended December 31, 2011.
May 10, 2012: revenues for third quarter ended March 31, 2012.
July 30, 2012: earnings for the full year ended June 30, 2012

About Eutelsat Communications

Eutelsat Communications (Euronext Paris: ETL, ISIN code: FR0010221234) is the holding company of Eutelsat S.A.. With capacity commercialised on 29 satellites that provide coverage over the entire European continent, as well as the Middle East, Africa, India and significant parts of Asia and the Americas, Eutelsat is one of the world's three leading satellite operators in terms of revenues. At 30 September 2010, Eutelsat's satellites were broadcasting more than 3,950 television channels. Nearly 1,100 channels broadcast via its HOT BIRD™ video neighbourhood at 13 degrees East which serves over 120 million cable and satellite homes in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. The Group's satellites also serve a wide range of fixed and mobile telecommunications services, TV contribution markets, corporate networks, and broadband markets for Internet Service Providers and for transport, maritime and in-flight markets. Eutelsat's broadband subsidiary, Skylogic, markets and operates access to high speed internet services through teleports in France and Italy that serve enterprises, local communities, government agencies and aid organisations in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Headquartered in Paris, Eutelsat and its subsidiaries employ nearly 700 commercial, technical and operational employees from 30 countries.